Date: 01/22/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1067

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE, & ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1067 to the Committee on ApproPASS



03:32 PM -- HB 15-1067

The committee came back to order. Representative Kraft-Tharp and Representative Landgraf presented House Bill 15-1067. The bill requires licensed psychologists to complete at least 40 hours of continuing professional development and education during each two-year license renewal cycle in order to maintain their professional license. The State Board of Psychologist Examiners (state board) in the Department of Regulatory Agencies is required to adopt rules establishing the continuing professional development program and the bill specifies certain requirements that the program must meet. The state board is allowed to audit up to five percent of licensed psychologists during each renewal cycle to check compliance with the continuing professional development requirement. Continuing education under the bill may include attending or teaching an academic course, authoring a paper, or attending workshops and symposia, among other things. References were made to fact sheets distributed prior to the committee meeting.

03:38 PM -- Dr. Laura Knudtson, representing the Colorado Psychological Association, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the education requirements for psychologists and the current continuing competency requirements for other mental health professionals. She provided background information on the bill and discussed the stakeholder process involved in developing the bill. Dr. Knudtson responded to questions about the support for the bill by psychologists and whether psychologists are currently voluntarily participating in professional development. Dr. Knudtson responded to questions about how the bill differs from the current continuing competency requirements for other mental health providers. In response to a question, she discussed the American Psychological Association. Dr. Knudtson responded to questions about the credits offered for teaching a course and for authoring, editing, and reviewing a psychological publication.

03:57 PM

Dr. Knudtson responded to questions about the current licensure requirements for psychologists and the possible costs to psychologists to meet the proposed continuing professional development requirements. She responded to questions about the Colorado Psychological Association. Dr. Knudtson continued to respond to questions about the bill.

04:05 PM -- Dr. Tom Gray, representing the Colorado Psychological Association, testified in support of the bill. He stated he has not heard any objection from his colleagues about establishing a continuing professional development program for psychologists. He discussed his experience as a psychologist. Dr. Gray responded to questions about whether the requirements in the bill are attainable.

04:13 PM

Dr. Knudtson and Dr. Gray responded to questions about why the Colorado Psychologist Association could not require continuing professional development of its members. Dr. Knudtson said that there are about 2,000 psychologists in Colorado and just under 500 are members of the Colorado Psychologist Association. Dr. Knudtson responded to questions about the fiscal note.


04:18 PM -- Ronne Hines, representing the Department of Regulatory Agencies, responded to questions about how the department enforces and monitors the continuing professional development requirements for other professions. She responded to questions about what currently happens if a psychologist is suspected of being incompetent or has a complaint filed against him or her.


04:23 PM

Representative Kraft-Tharp and Representative Landgraf gave concluding remarks regarding the bill. The committee dialogued about the bill.

BILL:HB15-1067
TIME: 04:33:53 PM
MOVED:Landgraf
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1067 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 8-5.
SECONDED:Ginal
VOTE
Brown
No
Esgar
Yes
Humphrey
No
Joshi
No
Klingenschmitt
No
Landgraf
Yes
Lontine
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Ransom
No
Ryden
Yes
Ginal
Yes
McCann
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




04:35 PM

The committee adjourned.